Stéphanie Frappart is arguably the most requested football referee at the moment. Even too much requested. « It was decided, together with UEFA, not to expose it too much. It is the object of many requests, in France and abroad ”, We first responded to the communication from the French Football Federation (FFF), in early December 2020, before accepting a videoconference.
The French had just refereed Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League. A historic first for a female central referee. The first, in men’s football, Stéphanie Frappart, 37, collects them: in Ligue 2, in Ligue 1, in the European Supercup, in the League of Nations. For the past ten years, she has refereed more than 170 matches for men. And these coming weeks, with the resumption of Ligue 1 since January 6, it should again be very busy.
In women’s football too, Stéphanie Frappart’s record is impressive with two World Cup finals, the last of which in France, in 2019. But men’s football attracts (much) more attention and, today, all are turn to her. “As soon as she pointed the tip of her nose to the various men’s competitions, it was the subject of media interest, recalls Pascal Garibian, technical director of refereeing at the FFF. But she has always been able to rise above the challenges. “
A locomotive for women’s arbitration
Besides, she is modest. On the other side of the screen, white FFF polo shirt on her shoulders, the discreet nature of the Frenchwoman can be guessed by the conciseness of her answers. Is she tired of always being called the “first woman” to referee such and such a match? In a pout, she specifies that she “Don’t pay too much attention to it”. Before completing: “Now I blend into the background and it suits me very well. I always said: give me time and judge me on my skills and not on my gender. »
“The protest still exists, but there is less verbal violence (from the players). »Stéphanie Frappart
Far from the legendary Juventus, it was during an Amiens-Strasbourg, April 28, 2019, that she drew attention. It was his first match in Ligue 1. “I play a role model now, and I can’t pretend I wasn’t, she reacts. If I’m playing a role, I might as well put it forward. “ “She is aware of being a locomotive for women’s refereeing, beyond France itself, summarizes Pascal Garibian. She wants there to be not just one Stéphanie Frappart. ” In addition to her contract as a professional referee, the one who, part-time, is the coordinator of activities at the Federation sportive et gymnique du travail (FSGT) presides over the development of women’s refereeing within the FFF.
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